In The Beginning God Created a Social Worker

I gave my life to the Lord completely in December, 1991. My wife had given me a Bible that I read but didn’t think much about. The stories were familiar to me for a number of different reasons, but my faith was not real. We were attending a Methodist Church; I was a 29 year old senior, at Bridgewater State College, set the graduate in May, 1992.

God began to move on my heart to preach the Gospel. I had accepted the Lord as my savior at 16 but was never discipled and knew very little about the Word of God. I knew I had friends praying for me. I appreciated it but did think it would change my life. It did. In my bedroom on a cold morning, I acknowledged God’s call on my life. I would come to realize how much my sin had hurt him shortly after that. I repented with bitter tears and gratitude for his love and forgiveness.

I was a social worker. Not a field filled with evangelical Christians. I live and received my training in a liberal and “progressive” environment. Now I was a Bible thumper.

Not long after my graduation a starting working for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, in Fall River. In the natural course of doing bio-psychosocial assessments of families religion would come up. When opportunities availed themselves I would talk about the Lord with clients. In my work environment the Directors in two different cities, Fall River and Plymouth, gave us permission to do a voluntary prayer groups. We asked social workers their prayer request and would petition the Lord on their behalf. Many prayers were answered and those who requested the prayers gave appropriate honor to God.

One of my clients had many questions about Christianity. She had been a Jehovah Witness previously and wanted to know more. We would discuss the Bible among other things but there really was not reason for her family to be involved with a child protection agency so I closed her case. A few months later it reopened. I said to Barbara, “There is no reason you should be involved with the Department of Social Services." “Let’s talk more about Jesus." She was Baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, when her children came home from school that day. She became the founding member of Gates of Praise Ministries. I left the Department of Social Services as I saw it as an increasing conflict of interest to be a minister and a child protection worker in the same city. I avoided this for a little while by working in Plymouth. It was exciting to see God work in the lives of both clients and co-workers. He has continued to do so to this present day. I look forward to sharing the Glory of his work with you through this blog.

God Bless You All, Don Boucher